WARWICK — Three write-in candidates have added some competition to Monday’s annual town election.

Polls will be open from noon to 7 p.m. in Town Hall.

James Erviti of 844 Orange Road will challenge incumbent Selectboard member Nick Arguimbau for a three-year seat.

James Erviti

A retired propane technician and part-time bookkeeper, Erviti said he threw his hat in the ring this year because he wanted to give back to his town.

“I have always struggled with whether I have provided this town, which I very much enjoy, enough of my time in terms of civic duty,” said Erviti.

Erviti currently serves as the town’s emergency management director. Since he moved to town in 1991, he’s also been a police officer, firefighter, and emergency medical technician.

Erviti sees the proposed natural gas pipeline as the biggest issue facing the town. The proposed route cuts through more than 20 Warwick properties, as well as state forests and other protected lands.

Town finances are also a concern, Erviti said.

“There’s a lot of money the town needs for different things,” he said. “We have to look at things, and see what can be done to try to reduce whatever expenditures we can.”

Nick Arguimbau

Arguimbau agrees that the pipeline is the number one issue facing Warwick.

“There would be a huge change to the character of the town if the pipeline comes in,” Arguimbau said.

He is concerned that Warwick could host not only the east-west transmission line proposed to cut through the state, but also a north-south “spur” line that would serve New Hampshire.

Arguimbau has been a Selectboard member since 2008, having served two three-year terms since he moved to town in 2005. He said he ran for his first term after being asked by others, who felt that his experience as an environmental lawyer and Planning Commission member in California would bring some expertise to the board.

Arguimbau also serves on the Planning Board, and was a Finance Committee member.

Arguimbau said he wants to stay on the Selectboard to maintain the town’s checks and balances.

“There has to be someone on the board to say ‘no’ to (Town Coordinator) David Young at the appropriate times,” he said. “He’s a very good administrator, but he gets out of line sometimes. At one point, he asked for full hiring and firing authority over town positions, and I think it would have passed had I not been there.”

Town Clerk election

Rosa Calcari and Nancy Lyman are waging write-in campaigns for town clerk.

Jeanette Fellows decided not to seek re-election after 16 years as town clerk. Mary Humphries was nominated, but had to withdraw her candidacy after taking a new job.

Rosa Calcari

Calcari, of 203 Orange Road, is the town’s animal control officer and animal inspector, and town secretary and registrar of voters. She said she plans to keep those positions if elected clerk.

Calcari said she would change the clerk’s hours to better suit residents, and would seek their input in drafting her schedule. As Fellows does, Calcari would make herself available from home and by appointment outside of normal office hours.

Calcari said that, if she is elected clerk, it would not interfere with her other town duties. Also, she hasn’t had a job outside of town since 2012, which she said will increase her availability.

She said she has thought of running for town clerk in the past, and this year’s lack of a candidate gave her reason to run.

“It seem like an interesting job, you meet a lot of people, and do things to help them,” she said.

Calcari is glad to face some competition for the position.

“I think it’s refreshing to have a race, when so many positions go uncontested in town,” she said.

Nancy Lyman

Lyman, of 83 Hastings Pond Road, currently serves on the Board of Health. She is a former banker, and served as assistant to the town administrator of Orange for three years. She thinks her experience will be an asset as town clerk.

“I’m very good at detail-oriented work, and I think I’ll be a good fit,” she said. “I’m also very personable, friendly and outgoing.”

Lyman has lived in Warwick for 16 years, in a log cabin she and her husband built.

She said she’s running for the chance to give back to her town.

“I’ve lived here a while, and gotten to know a lot of the people here,” she said. “I’m already on the Board of Health, but I wanted to get more involved.”

Lyman said she would also change the Town Clerk’s hours, likely from Monday mornings to evenings, as well as make herself available by phone from home, and by special appointment.

To vote for a write-in, residents must write the candidate’s full name and address in the appropriate place on the ballot.

Polls will be open from noon to 7 p.m. in Town Hall. No other positions have produced a contest.

You can reach David Rainville at: drainville@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 279 @RecorderRain